Toy grasshopper



June 1 l, 1929. J BRUBAKER 1,717,141

TOY GRASSHOPPER Filed Feb. 15, 1928 2 ShnyEAEs-Sheef l Jumb EBrabakea;

June 11, 1929. J BRUBAKER 1,717,141

TOY GRAS SHOPPER Filed Feb. 15, 192-8 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gri wuauto o Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB E. BRUBAKER, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HUBLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY GRASSHOPPER.

Application filed February 15, 1928. Serial No. 254,467.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to a wheeled top adapted to be pulled or otherwise moved over the ground or like surface to simulate the walking action of a grasshopper.

To that end, the invention contemplates a novel construction, including a hollow body patterned after that of a grasshopper, and having fore-leg, mid-leg and hind-leg members carried by the body and the latter being operated in a novel and distinctive manner to graphically produce the animated effect of a grasshopper in its walking motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character described that may be easily and economically manufactured and assembled, and which possesses special features of construction to make the various animated movements possible. In that connection, the invention contemplates a novel mounting of the mid-legs, and a novel mounting and means for operating the hind legs.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved toy.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4: of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectionalview taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the front end of the body showing the manner of mounting the antenna.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 ofv Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the same includes in its organization a body designated generally as A, which is preferably formed in two complemental sections B and C held together by a screw or equivalent fastening D.

Each of the sections B and C carry a rigid bracket arm E which simulates the front leg of the insect and which together provide means for supporting an axle F carrying the wheels Gr. These wheels and with the traction wheel H form a part of the travelling means for supporting the toy.

The traction wheel H is preferably provided with a rubber or equivalent non-slipping tire or tread 1, and has the oppositely pro ecting axle portions 2 adapted to fit in the sockets 3 formed on the inside of each section. The said wheel H is provided on opposite sides of its axis with the cams 4 which are adapted to operate the jointed hindleg members designated generally as L. Therefore, it will be apparent that the traction wheel H is intended to produce animated motion to the hind leg members, and these members in turn are adapted to impart movement to the mid-leg members designated generally as L during a part of their forward movement by striking against the same.

Referring more particularly to the leg members L, it will be observed that the same each comprise a main section 5 and a trailing section 6 connected by a ball and socket joint 8 shown in detail in Fig. 8. In that connection, it may be pointed out that the main sections 5 are formed of aluminum, and the ends 5 thereof are split so that they will initially have suflicient clearance to admit the ball portion 6 of the trailing section. The walls or jaws 5 are then pinched together to hold the balls 6 loosely in place. This construction gives the trailing sections a relatively free unstable movement which adds materially to the animated action of the toy.

The lower ends 9 of the trailing sections 6 of the hind-legs are adapted to engage the ground or other surface, and the lower ends of the main sections?) are pivotally supported as indicated at 10 to the outer sides of the body sections B and C. At. a point intermediate the pivot 10, and the ball and socket joint 8, the main sections 5 are provided with the inwardly extending lugs 11 which proj set through the slots 12 in the sections B and C thereby to alternately engage with the cams 4 on opposite sides of the traction wheel H. As the traction wheel H rotates, it will be apparent that the cams 4: will propel the main sections 5 of the legs forward due to the engagement of the cams with the lugs 11, and when the cams leave the lugs, the leg members will move backwardly due to the weight and pull thereon exerted by the trailing sections 6 which engage the ground. The cams a, therefore, function to give the hind leg members L their forward movement.

The mid-leg members L are preferably made integral and consists of the angular leg simulating portions 13 which. are connected by an intermediate web 1d having a key 15 adapted to fit in a key recess 16 formed be tween the sections 13 and C. The said key 15 loosely fits in the recess so that the mid-leg member has an unstable support, whereby when the main sections 5 of the hind legs are thrown forward by the cams a, the same main sections 5 will strike against the mid-legs to impart a vibrating motion thereto, thus reproducing more fully the animated effect of movement in both mid and hind-leg members.

A sound producing device for simulating the noise of a grasshopper consists of a mutilated ratchet wheel 17 carried by the axle F and adapted to be engaged by the free end of a fiat spring 18 which is mounted as indicated at 19 on one of the body sections. Thus, as the toy is pulled along its supporting surface the ratchet 17 and the spring 18 will cooperate to produce an intermittent noise.

The front ends of the body sections B and C are provided with the inclined walls 20 (Fig. 7) which diverge outwardly thereby to permit the ends of a spring antenna 21 to project forwardly of the head to simulate the antenna or feelers of the grasshopper. As will be observed from Fig.7 the antenna 21 is heldin place merely by the sections B and C, the holding portion being provided by twisting the intermediate part of the spring forming the antenna into a loop 22, the neck of the loop being clamped between the body sections shown and thus held in place.

It will, of course, be understood that the body A of the toy as well as the other parts thereof arepainted or otherwise decorated to simulate a grasshopper, and when the toy is moved along the ground by pulling it by the cord 28 or the like, the animated movements of the fore and hind legs will take place as previously described.

lVithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to, those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. An animated toy simulating a grasshopper comprising in combination, a body, a pair of wheels supporting the front of the body, jointed hind-leg members carried at the sides of the body, a traction wheel having cams thereonfor operating the hind-leg members and said wheel also constituting a part of the travelling support for the body, and mid-legs loosely interlocked with the body and adapted to be struck by a portion of the jointed hind-legs in their forward movement to impart motion to said mid-legs.

2. An animated toy simulating a grasshopper comprising in combination, a pair of sections adapted to meet along a longitudinal line to form a body, bracket arms carried by each of said sections, a wheeled axle mounted in said bracket arms, socket members formed on the inside ofeach section, a traction wheel having an axle portion mounted in said sockets, cams on opposite sides of said traction wheel, a pair of jointed hind-leg members pivoted to the outer side of each section, and having an inwardly projecting portion adapted to be engaged by said cams, a member simulating the mid legs of a grasshopper, and having its medial portion loosely interlocked with the body sections at a point in advanceof the traction wheel whereby the same may be engaged by the jointed hindlegs in their forward movement, and means for fastening said sections together.

3. An animated toy simulating a grasshopper comprising a wheeled body made in complemental sections and having a key receiving recess for loosely fitting in said recess, a member simulating the mid legs of a grasshopper comprising angular leg simulating portions and a connecting portion having an intermediate key, jointed hind-leg members carried by the body, and means for operating said jointed hind-leg members to simulate the walking movement-of a grasshopper, and a portion of said hind legs being adapted to strike the angular portions of said fore leg member to impart movement thereto.

4:. An animated toy simulating a grasshopper comprising a wheeled body made in complemental sections, said body simulating the head, body, wings and legs of the grasshopper, and the front end of the body sections at the point which simulates the head having oppositely inclined walls, and a vibrating spring member simulating the antenna of the grasshopper being looped at its intermediate portion, and said looped portion being clamped between the body sections at the location of the inclined walls.

5. An animated toy simulating a grasshopper comprising in combination, a wheeled body, jointed hind-legs carried by the body, a traction wheel having means for operating said jointed leg members, and other leg members looselv carried by the body and arranged and mid-legs loosely interlocked with the body and adapted to be struck by a portion of the jointed hind-legs in their forward 10 movement to impart motion to said mid-legs. In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature.

JACOB E. BRUBAKER. 

